Chapter 4 Important Terms Flashcards
Abandonment
Neglecting a patient or client under and in need of immediate professional care, without making reasonable arrangements for the contribution of such care.
Assault
A threat or attempt to injure another person in an illegal manner
Battery
Unlawful touching of another person without consent, with or without injury.
Breach
Breaking the law, an obligation or the terms of a contract.
Civil law
Defines the legal relationship between individuals
Common law
Unwritten law; customs that may have authority or have been established by prior court decisions
Conduct
Behavior or a person’s actions
Consent
Permission granted by a person voluntarily and in sound mind; written consent is most easily proved.
Crime
Performing an act that is forbidden or omitting a duty required by public law, making the offender liable for the action
Criminal law
Defines the legal obligation between an individual and the state of society.
Custom
An accepted behavior or common practice
Duty of care
By law, health care workers must perform services in a manner that meets common standards of practice
Ethics
Standards of behavior and practice that are established by a professional organization for its members
Felony
A serious crime for which the penalty is imprisonment for more than 1 year
Ideal
Standard of perfection or excellence
Illegal restraint
Holding or detaining a person against his or her will.
Invasion of privacy
Unlawfully making known to the public any private or personal information without the consent of the wronged person
Liable
Legally responsible for own actions
Libel
Communicating something untruthful and harmful about another person in writing
Licensure
Authorization by the state to perform the functions of an occupation for which educational and examination standards are specified
Litigation
A lawsuit or legal action
Malpractice
Bad or harmful practice that injures another person
Misdemeanors
Crimes that are less serious than felonies and result in imprisonment for less than 1 year
Negligence
Failure to perform duties in a reasonable and customary way
Privileged communication
Personal or private information relating to the care given by health care personnel
Reasonable care
Services given in a manner appropriate to the level of education and experience of the health care worker
Slander
Verbally communicating something untruthful and harmful about another person
Statutory law
Law established by the legislative branch of government that determines what is legal
Tort
Civil wrong
Unethical
Action that does not represent ideal behavior but might not be illegal
Value system
Ideals and thoughts that determine what is considered worthwhile or meaningful, right or wrong
Will
Written document that allows a person to distribute property after death
